Creating Waterwise Park Strips

Creating Waterwise Park Strips

8275 South 1300 West, West Jordan, Utahhttp://ConservationGardenPark.org

http://conservationgardenpark.org/

Sprinklers are not designed to water

areas less than 8’ wide.

Water Waste

Average lawn park strip uses 7,000-10,000

gal.

WaterWaste

Shallow roots break concrete

sidewalks

TreeRoots

Adjacent hot surfaces bake

lawn

Extreme Climate

Salts applied in winter can be

damaging

RoadSalt

Flipped Park Strip

VS.

Lawn Park Strip

Create Curb Appeal(literally)

• Owned by the city but maintained by you

• Check local regulations and codes

• Homeowner’s Associations may have requirements too

Park Strip Ownership

• Most require between 33-50% plant coverage

• Groundcovers and continuous plants must be below 20”

• Individual accent plants may be 36” tall

Typical Requirements

• Plants can’t block site lines from driveway or road in park strips


• The use of concrete or asphalt is often prohibited in park strips larger than 24” or that have existing trees


Convert to Drip

RemoveLawn

Plant & Mulch

• This includes pathways, plants, and drip irrigation

• Proper plant selection is important

1. Plan & Design

Download from localscapes.com

Free Plans

• Lawn needs to be killed down to the roots before removal

• This can be done with Glyphosate (Roundup) or plastic sheets

2. Remove Existing Lawn

PlasticSheets

Herbicides

• Lawn can be removed with sod cutter or tiller

• Mark existing sprinkler heads with flags or sticks

• Be careful when removing lawn around existing trees

2. Remove Existing Lawn

SodCutter

Tiller

• Lawn and soil should be removed several inches below the sidewalk

• This will help to retain the mulch in the park strip

2. Remove Weeds

& Lawn

3-4” Below Sidewalk

• Drip Irrigation must be used in park strips

• Drip supplies water directly to the plants roots

• Cuts down on water waste

3. Install or Convert to Drip

In-Line

Point Source

• It is best two run a least three rows of in-line drip in a park strip.

• This will more effectively water the plants as they grow

In-Line Drip

Sprinkler Valve:• Used For Lawn• Spray Sprinkler Heads

Drip Irrigation Valve:• Used For Drip• Includes Filter/ Pressure Reducer

Filter

Pressure Reducer

Overspray on road

= Spray Zone 1= Spray Pattern

Retrofit heads from various brands

= RETROFITTED Sprinkler Head= CAPPED Sprinkler Head= Drip Irrigation Tubing

TIP: No need to dig up all old pipe, cap off unnecessary spray heads.

= Spray Zone

= Spray Zone

= New Drip Zone

Mature trees have extensive root systems

that must receive enough water

Trees

Trees

Trees will still need water

under their canopy after lawn is

removed.

Trees

Install In-line drip irrigation in this

area.

In-LineDrip

Loop in-line drip around tree in two rings for

adequate water

• Create pass-through areas in the park strip

• Make sure the path is large enough for safe passage

4. Add Hardscape

Hard-scape

Hardscape should be

permeable to water and

air

• Drip can be run underneath paths before they are completed

• Use blank drip tubing and run it through a conduit

Drip Lines & Hardscape

• Hardscape materials should be kept at least 3’ away from any existing or new trees

• This helps to maintain the health of the tree and the integrity of the hardscape

Hardscape

Considerations

3 Feet

• Plants should be waterwise, compact, and tough

• Salt tolerance is also recommended

5. Plant

MixedDensity

Low Density

High Density

• 2-4” of mulch should be applied on the soil surface

• Helps to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds

• Personal preference on material

6. Mulch

bark orcompost

gravel or river rock

chat or dg

• New plants can’t handle long periods without water

• Water every other day for the first two weeks

• After the first two weeks you can scale back the watering to 2-3 times per week or as needed

Establishment Watering

• Waterwise park strips should be watered deeply and infrequently.

• Once plants are established, they should be watered once per week for about 1 hour.

Watering

• Watering park strip plants the same as lawn-- unintentionally cultivates weeds.

• Not using mulch or putting only a thin layer of mulch in place. Should be mulched 2-4” deep to shade out weeds and preserve soil moisture.

Maintenance Mistakes

1. Water with drip irrigation

2. Apply 2-4” of mulch

3. Avoid soil compaction

4. Minimize soil disruption

5. Use herbicides only AFTER you’ve done the first four steps.

Localscapes Weed Control Recipe

• Weed barrier fabric kills the soil

• It only works on weeds temporarily

• Decreases plant health• Should only be used

under hardscape

Maintenance Mistakes

Foliage

Colorful foliage is the designer’s

secret for lovely landscapes

Repeat

Repeating the same plant or color creates

order

• Super Blooming Utah Native (April-November)

• 7-9” Tall

• Tidy mat of green foliage

SundancerDaisy

Tetraneuris acaulis

• Smells like chocolate

• Blooms off and on, all season

• 1’ tall x 2’ wide

ChocolateFlower

Berlandiera lyrata

• Utah native

• Late spring bloomer (late May-June)

• 2 feet tall x 2 feet wide

Firecracker Penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

• Low maintenance/ high impact

• 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide

Mexican HatRatibida columnifera

• Beautiful mix of colors

• 2 feet tall x 1 foot wide

• Many other penstemons will work too

Rondo PenstemonPenstemon barbatus ‘Rondo’

• Low, spreading groundcover

• 1 foot tall x 2 foot wide

• Summer- fall bloom

Fire ChaliceZauschneria californica

• New low-growing cultivars for park strips


• Summer- fall bloom, many colors

Hummingbird Mint

Agastache spp.

• Low, spreading groundcover


• Spring bloom, repeats

CatmintNepeta spp.

• Multi-season interest


• Blue-green blades

Blue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirens

• Ornamental grass for dry shade


• Multiple foliage colors

SedgeCarex spp.

• Evergreen groundcover shrub

• 8 inches tall x 2 feet wide

• Small flowers in spring, berries fall

KinnikinnikArctostaphylos uva-ursi

• Fantastic foliage options

• 8 inches tall x 2 feet wide

• Pink, purple or white flowers

Dead NettleLamium spp.

• Fantastic foliage and flower options

• 1 foot tall x 2 feet wide

• Pink, purple or blue flowers

Hardy Geranium

Geranium spp.

• Cobalt blue flowers

• 1 foot tall x 2 feet wide

• Vivid red fall color

PlumbagoCeratostigma plumbaginoides

• Interesting yellow flowers and pods

• Salt tolerant

• 20- 30 feet tall and wide

Golden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculata

• Thick, dense leaf cover

• Tear drop natural shape


• Not for use under utility lines

Little Leaf LindenTilia cordata

• Irregular shape

• Salt tolerant


• Not for use under utility lines

Common HackberryCeltis occidentalis

• Very little tree “litter”


• Smaller tree to use under utility lines

City Sprite® ZelkovaZelkova serrata CITY SPRITE

• Ivory lilac flowers late spring-after other flowering trees have bloomed



Ivory Silk LilacSyringa reticulata

• Fruitless, lightly scented blooms



Spring Snow Crabapple

Malus x ‘Spring Snow’

Simple

Simple solution with rock river bed, Russian

sedum & trees

Low-Density

Simple plantings of low-growing juniper, grasses

and bulbs

CurbAppeal

Dramatically different user experiences

• Free and low-cost classes

• Visit the Garden for ideas 8275 South 1300 West, West Jordan, Utah

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